U.S. patent number 6,551,115 [Application Number 10/062,893] was granted by the patent office on 2003-04-22 for power jack with central pin.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Lunsong Hu, Pengtei Li, ZiQiang Zhu.
United States Patent |
6,551,115 |
Li , et al. |
April 22, 2003 |
Power jack with central pin
Abstract
A power jack includes an insulating housing (1) having a plug
insertion hole (12), a central pin (2) received in the plug
insertion hole, and a first switch contact (3) and a second switch
contact (4) secured in the housing. The central pin is integrally
stamped and configured from a metal sheet, which has a hollow
column-shaped contacting section (21), a hollow cuboid-shaped
soldering section (22) extending downwardly, and an intermediate
section (23) connecting therebetween. The central pin has two wings
(231) extending from opposite sides of the intermediate section and
being retained in a corresponding pair of slots (131) defined in
the housing.
Inventors: |
Li; Pengtei (Kunsan,
CN), Hu; Lunsong (Kunsan, CN), Zhu;
ZiQiang (Kunsan, CN) |
Assignee: |
Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co.,
Ltd. (Taipei Hsien, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
21687857 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/062,893 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2002 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 26, 2001 [TW] |
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90223016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/79; 200/51.1;
439/947 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/7033 (20130101); H01R 24/38 (20130101); H01R
2105/00 (20130101); Y10S 439/947 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/00 (20060101); H01R 13/646 (20060101); H01R
13/703 (20060101); H01R 13/70 (20060101); H01R
009/09 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/188,668,733.1,63,947 ;200/51.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Field; Lynn
Assistant Examiner: Dinh; Phuong KT
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Chung; Wei Te
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A power jack for mating with a mating plug comprising: an
insulating housing having a front face, a rear face opposite to the
front face, a plug insertion hole defined through the front face,
an upper recess and a lower recess both defined in the rear face, a
groove communicating the upper recess with the lower recess, an
elongated cavity communicating the upper recess with the plug
insertion hole, an elongated chamber communicating with the lower
recess and the groove, and a pair of slots on opposite sides of the
elongated cavity and in communication with the groove; a first
switch contact substantially received in the elongated chamber; a
second switch contact fixed to the insulating housing and partially
received in the elongated chamber, the first switch contact being
movable to electrically contact with said second switch contact by
a mating plug; and an one-piece central conductive pin comprising a
hollow contacting portion received in said elongated cavity and in
alignment with said plug insertion hole, a soldering portion
vertically extending through said lower recess and engaged with the
insulating housing, and an intermediate portion connecting said
contacting portion and said soldering portion, said intermediate
portion being substantially received in said groove and comprising
a pair of wings, the pair of wings extending from opposite sides
thereof and being retained in said pair of slots.
2. The power jack as described in claim 1, wherein each of said
wings has a barb on a lateral edge thereof for interference fitting
with a corresponding slot.
3. The power jack as described in claim 1, wherein said contacting
portion of said central conductive pin is configured as a hollow
column.
4. The power jack as described in claim 1, wherein said soldering
portion of said central conductive pin is configured as a hollow
cuboid and has a tapered free end, and said insulating housing
includes a bottom wall and a rectangular groove defined in a rear
side of said bottom wall for extension of said tapered free end of
said soldering portion therethrough and for retaining said
soldering portion.
5. The power jack as described in claim 1, wherein said first
switch contact comprises a base portion and a resilient portion
extending rearwards from a front edge of said base portion, both
said base portion and said resilient portion being received in said
elongated chamber.
6. The power jack as described in claim 5, wherein said resilient
portion has an inverted V-shaped portion and a contacting portion
formed at a free end thereof, said contacting portion having a pair
of contacting fingers resiliently and conductively engagable with
said first switch contact.
7. The power jack as described in claim 5, wherein said base
portion has a downwardly extending resilient tab, and said
insulating housing defines a rectangular hole for receiving said
resilient tab.
8. The power jack as described in claim 5, wherein said base
portion comprises a pair of retaining portions horizontally
projecting form opposite lateral sides thereof, and said insulating
housing defines a pair of opposite channels interconnected by said
elongated chamber for respectively receiving said pair of retaining
portions.
9. The power jack as described in claim 5, wherein said base
portion has a retaining leg projecting from a lateral rear edge
thereof and extending downwardly, and said insulating housing
defines a lower cutout in communication with said elongated chamber
for outward extension of said retaining leg.
10. The power jack as described in claim 1, wherein said second
switch contact comprises a contacting arm substantially received in
the elongated chamber, a retaining leg extending downwardly along
an outer surface of said insulating housing, and a bent-out
transition portion connecting said contacting arm and said
retaining leg.
11. The power jack as described in claim 10, wherein said
insulating housing defines an upper cutout in said outer surface in
communication with said elongated chamber for receiving said
transition portion.
12. The power jack as described in claim 11, wherein said
contacting arm has an enlarged portion at a free end thereof and a
pair of lugs separately protruding forwards from a front edge
thereof, and said insulating housing defines a slit opposite to
said upper cutout for receiving said enlarged portion and a pair of
cavities respectively communicating with said upper cutout and said
slit for interference fitting said pair of lugs therein.
13. The power jack as described in claim 10, wherein said
contacting arm electrically contacts with said first switch contact
prior to insertion of the mating plug.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power jack, and particularly to
a power jack having an improved central pin.
2. Description of Prior Art
FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate two kinds of central pins 80, 90 used in
two respective conventional power jacks 8, 9. The first kind of
central pin 80 shown in FIG. 9 has a tapered front end 801, an
intermediate enlarged portion 802, and a rear end portion 803
hollowed into a cylindrical configuration. A terminal 82, having a
hole defined therethrough for insertion of the rear end portion 803
of the central pin 80 and a leg 821 extending downwards for
engaging with a corresponding printed circuit board, is crimped
onto such first kind of central pin 80, thereby establishing an
electrical connection between a mating plug and the printed circuit
board. However, the central conductive part of the power jack 8
being composed of the central pin 80 and the terminal 82 not only
complicates the assembly process but also increases the
manufacturing cost.
The second kind of central pin 90, as shown in FIG. 10, is
configured in a solid column shape, and comprises a front portion
901 and a rear portion 902 extending downwards from a bent-out end
903 of the front portion 901. Such kind of central pin 90 is
obtained by a multi-axis forming method, whereby the manufacture
reliability cannot be ensured and the manufacture cost is
unavoidably increased.
Hence, a power jack having an improved central pin is required to
overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a power jack
having an improved central conductive pin, the manufacture cost of
which is reduced and the manufacture reliability of which is
improved.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a power jack in
accordance with the present invention includes an insulating
housing, a central conductive pin accommodated in the insulating
housing, a first switch contact and a second switch contact
respectively secured in the insulating housing beside the central
conductive pin. The insulating housing defines a plug insertion
hole through a front face, an upper recess and a lower recess
separately in an upper side and a lower side of a rear face
thereof. An elongated cavity and a pair of slots at opposite sides
of the elongated cavity are defined in the insulating housing and
in communicate with the upper recess. An elongated chamber is
defined between side walls and in communication with the lower
recess. The first switch contact is substantially received in the
elongated chamber, and comprises a base portion and a resilient
portion extending backwards from a front edge of the base portion.
The second switch contact is partially received in the elongated
chamber and electrically contacts with the first switch contact
prior to insertion of a mating plug and from the first switch
contact after insertion of the mating plug. The central conductive
pin is integrally stamped and has a contacting section configured
as a hollow column, a soldering section configured as a hollow
cuboid and extending downwards, and an intermediate section
connecting the contacting section with the soldering section. A
pair of wings are formed oppositely on the intermediate section of
the central conductive pin. The central conductive pin is received
in the elongated cavity, the central axis of which is in alignment
with that of the plug insertion hole for correctly and properly
cooperating with the mating plug.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description of the
present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG.4 is an exploded, perspective view of a power jack in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but taken from a different
angle;
FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of the power jack shown in
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a back plan view of the power jack shown in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 sequentially illustrate the process of forming a
central conductive pin of the power jack shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the power jack, with a mating
connector connected therewith;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional power jack using
a first kind of central pin; and
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional power jack
using a second kind of central pin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, a power jack in accordance with the present
invention includes an insulating housing 1, a central conductive
pin 2 accommodated in the insulating housing 1, a first switch
contact 3 and a second switch contact 4 located in the insulating
housing 1 beside the central conductive pin 2.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the insulating housing 1 defines a plug
insertion hole 12 through a front face 10 thereof, an upper
rectangular recess 13 in a rear face 11 thereof, and a lower recess
14 in the rear face 11. A groove 17 is defined between and
communicates with the upper recess 13 and the lower recess 14. An
elongated cavity 130 is defined in front of the upper rectangular
recess 13 and communicates the upper rectangular recess 13 with the
plug insertion hole 12. At a bottom side of the rectangular recess
13, a pair of slots 131 are defined oppositely. The insulating
housing 1 also has an elongated chamber 141 defined in a
longitudinal direction between two sidewalls 16 thereof and
communicating with the lower recess 14. The two sidewalls 16
respectively define an upper cutout 163 and a slit 161 extending
inwards a predetermined distance. The cutout 163 and the slit 161
are in communication with the elongated chamber 141 horizontally
and in communication to the lower recess 14 longitudinally. A pair
of channels 162 are oppositely defined in the inner surfaces of the
sidewalls 16 under corresponding upper cutout 163 and slit 161. A
lower cutout 164 is defined in one sidewall 16 opposite to the
other one in which the upper cutout 163 is defined, and
communicates with the channel 162 in the same sidewall. A
rectangular groove 151 is defined in a rear side of a bottom wall
15 of the insulating housing 1 for receiving corresponding part of
the central conductive pin 2, which will be detailed hereinafter.
The bottom wall 15 of the insulating housing 1 also defines a
rectangular hole 152 in a middle thereof.
The first switch contact 3, which is substantially received in the
elongated chamber 141, comprises a base portion 32 and a resilient
portion 31 extending rearwards from a front edge of the base
portion 32. The resilient portion 31 has an inverted V-shaped
portion 310 and a contacting portion 311 formed at a free end
thereof with a pair of contacting fingers 312 projecting therefrom.
A pair of retaining portions 321 horizontally protrude from
opposite sides of the base portion 32 for being received in
corresponding channels 162 to secure the first switch contact 3 in
the insulating housing 1. The base portion 3 also has a resilient
tab 320 stamped therefrom for being retained in the rectangular
hole 152 of the insulating housing 1. A retaining leg 322 extends
downwards from a lateral rear edge of the base portion 32 for being
inserted into a corresponding hole of a printed circuit board (not
shown).
The second switch contact 4 is configured in an approximate L-like
shape, and includes a contacting arm 42, a retaining leg 43
extending vertically from the contacting arm 42, and a bent-out
transition portion 41 formed therebetween. The contacting arm 42
has an enlarged portion 421 formed at a free end thereof for
engaging with the slit 161 of the insulating housing 1. A pair of
lugs 422 protrude from a front edge of the contacting arm 42 for
being received in corresponding cavities (not shown) defined in the
sidewalls 16 in communication with respective upper cutout 163 and
the slit 161 to secure the second switch contact 4 therein.
The central conductive pin 2 of the present invention includes a
contacting section 21 configured in a hollow column, a soldering
section 22 configured in a hollow cuboid perpendicular to the
contacting section 21, and an intermediate section 23
interconnecting the contacting section 21 with the soldering
section 22. A pair of opposite wings 231 project horizontally from
a front end of the intermediate section 23 and are received in
corresponding slots 131 of the insulating housing 1. Each wing 231
forms a barb 232 on a lateral edge thereof for interference with an
outer sidewall of the corresponding slot 131. The central
conductive pin 2 further comprises a round contacting end 211 at a
free end of the contacting section 21 and a tapered soldering end
221 at a free end of the soldering section 22.
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 introduce a manufacturing process of the central
conductive pin 2 briefly. The central conductive pin 2 is stamped
and formed from a metal sheet. The metal sheet is first stamped to
obtain the original configuration of the central pin 2 which
comprises a contacting section 21', a soldering section 22' and a
soldering section 23', as shown in FIG. 5. The expanded contacting
section 21' is then rolled and configured into a hollow
column-shaped contacting section 21 with a round contacting end 211
being formed at a free end thereof, and the expanded soldering
section 22' is bent and configured into a hollow cuboid-shaped
soldering section 22, as shown in FIG. 6. Finally, the expanded
intermediate section 23' is bent along a rear side of the two wings
231 to obtain a final central pin 2 as shown in FIG. 7.
In assembly, the contacting arm 42 of the second switch contact 4
is inserted into the elongated chamber 141 through the upper cutout
163 of the sidewall 16, with the enlarged portion 421 being
received in the slit 161 opposite the upper cutout 163, with the
pair of lugs 422 being respectively retained in corresponding
cavities of the sidewalls 16, and with an upper portion of the
retaining leg 43 abutting against an outer surface of the sidewall
16 and a lower portion thereof extending beyond the bottom wall 15.
The first switch contact 3 is then received in the elongated
chamber 141 with the resilient tab 320 being retained in the
rectangular hole 152 with the pair of retaining portions 321 being
retained in the corresponding channels 162, and with an upper end
of the retaining leg 322 engaging with the lower cutout 164. At the
same time, the contacting fingers 312 of the resilient portion 31
resiliently contact with the contacting arm 42 of the second switch
contact 4 thus to establish an electrical connection therebetween.
Finally, the contacting section 21 of the central conductive pin 2
is accommodated in the cavity 130 in alignment with axis of the
plug insertion hole 12 for correctly and properly mating with the
mating plug 5. The pair of wings 231 of the central conductive pin
2 are respectively received in the pair of slots 131 and the
intermediate section 23 is downwardly received in the groove 17 of
the insulating housing 1. The soldering section 22 of the central
conductive pin 2 extends through the lower recess 14 and the
rectangular groove 151 and beyond the bottom wall 15 to engage with
the hole of the printed circuit board.
In use, referring to FIG. 8, the mating plug 5 with a conductive
terminal 51 is inserted into the plug insertion hole 12 of the
insulating housing 1. An outer shield 52 of the mating plug 5
presses against the inverted V-shaped portion 310 of the first
switch contact 3 and obliges the contacting fingers 312 to
disengage from the contacting arm 42 of the second switch contact
4, whereby a mechanical and conductive engagement between the outer
shield 52 of the mating plug 5 and the first switch contact 3 of
the power jack is obtained. Simultaneously, the conductive terminal
51 of the mating plug 5 has a bifurcated mating end 53 electrically
engaging with the contacting portion 21 of the central conductive
pin 2.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *